ˈlap-dog
[f. lap n.1 5 + dog.]
A small dog, such as is allowed to lie in a lady's lap.
| 1645 Evelyn Diary May, The lap-dogs which the ladies are so fond of. 1709 Prior When Cat is Away 56 Nor rats nor mice the lap-dog fear. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. II. 168 The lapdog at the time of Dr. Caius was of Maltese breed. 1802 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Ld. Belgrave Wks. 1812 IV. 516 A poor tame thing Just like a Lap-dog in a string. 1881 Besant & Rice Chapl. of Fleet i. x, The pet and plaything..a sort of lapdog to be carried in..coaches. |
| attrib. 1810 Sporting Mag. XXXVI. 71 Lap-dog beagles. 1838 Lytton Alice vi. iii, Had I not fed his lap-dog vanity..you would be Caroline Merton still. 1905 Dial (Chicago) 16 Feb. 114/2 Lap-dog poets. 1963 Times Lit. Suppl. 22 Feb. 132/4 A lap-dog lover. |